REVEALED: Record rainfall overnight but rain expected to ease

Water to be released from Kinchant Dam before heavy falls arrive in Mackay

Heavy rain still between Bowen and Townsville

A flood watch is still in place for Pioneer River

Collinsville received record rain for May

UPDATE 11:11am: The intense weather system is starting to move off the coast, with only a few more hours of consistent rain forecast.

There were heavy falls across the region overnight but according to Sky News Weather meteorologist Thomas Saunders the system "is contacting towards the coast" and only a few hours of steady rain is likely.

The heavy rain has been widespread. Collinsville had more than 120mm in 24 hours, breaking its May rain record.

"Mackay in the last 48 hours had a total is in excess of 100mm. It won't get heavier now, it's contacting toward the coast," Mr Saunders said.

"There is only a few hours of steady rain left."

Readers' rain readings:

Paula Lawrence: 80mm at Grasstree Beach - as of 9 am

Maureen Passey:Kuttabul 160mm and still going.

Vera Lade: 178mm still raining Bloomsbury

Anthony Riches: Finch Hatton 175mm in the last two days to 9am this morning

Dianne MacGregor: 110mm at Beaconsfield up to 8am this morning

Dion Wales: 155mm at St Helens Beach

Initial: HEAVY rain is continuing around Townsville and the Whitsundays, but Mackay didn't receive the heavy rainfall expected overnight.

There is still a minor flood warning for the Don River from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Rainfall for the 24 hours to 9am Friday:

Mackay: 82mm

Mackay Airport: 71mm

Gooseponds: 78mm

Dumbleton: 78mm

Rowallan Park: 80mm

McCreadys Creek: 75mm

Walkerston: 82mm

Kinchant Dam: 92mm

Marian Weir: 90mm

Dows Creek: 123mm

Finch Hatton: 111mm

Munbura: 84mm

Sucrogen Weir: 64

Koumala: 63mm

Moranbah: 53mm

Nebo: 36mm

Mt Roy: 88mm

Mt Jukes 127mm

Forbes Rd: 92mm

Sandy Plateau: 100mm

Jacks Creek: 103mm

Preston: 113mm

Proserpine: 110mm

Peter Faust Dam: 126mm

According to the bureau the Don River peaked at 3.3m overnight Thursday.

"Rainfall totals of 120 - 220 mm have been recorded over the Don River catchment since the start of the rainfall on Wednesday evening. Further moderate to heavy falls are possible during Friday," the warning from the bureau stated.

Cattle Creek at Gargett, Friday, May 19, 2017Jonathan Reichard

In Mackay, there have been showers across the northern suburbs in the past hour with rainfall less than 1mm.

Overnight there was heavy rain in the Pioneer Valley. More than 100mm of rain was recorded at several weather stations in the Valley.

Dows Creek recorded 123mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am, Mirani recorded 113mm, Gargett 115mm and Finch Hatton 111mm, while further up the valley Eungella received 111mm.

On Thursday night Sunwater announced that it was likely to release water from Kinchant Dam based on the BOM forecast for rainfall, but that did not eventuate.

The Pioneer River at Balnagowan boat ramp, Friday, May 19, 2017Jonathan Reichard

A Sunwater spokesperson said the operators do a controlled release of the dam when it reaches 87%. Kinchant Dam is currently at 86% capacity, while the Eungella and Teemburra dams are at 101% capacity and water is flowing over the spillways.